GUEST
Maria Sigstad
CEO, Plovm
APPEARED IN 1 EPISODE
Biography
Maria Sigstad is a neuroscientist, data scientist, accessibility tech founder, and CEO of Plovm. Raised in an all-autistic family where non-traditional communication and structural adaptations were a natural part of daily life, she brings both deep academic rigour and lived experience to her work as an autistic individual with OCD, hypermobility, and PTSD. Maria learned to code at age six and has an eidetic memory, going on to study neuroscience at the University of Nottingham and work as a research associate. She received her formal autism diagnosis during her university years after experiencing severe sensory overload from keyboard-typing sounds in crowded lecture halls. Driven by her core philosophy that inclusion must be built into structural design from the outset rather than granted as a diagnosis-dependent favour, Maria co-founded Plovm with her mother to create universal design software and accessibility technology. Operating across Oslo and Manchester, Plovm employs a team dedicated to hiring disabled talent. It utilises data science, pattern recognition, and gamified modules (such as Questville and Routine Rockstar) to help users navigate daily routines, workplace boundaries, and social interactions without the exhaustion of masking. Having overcome past trauma, severe bullying, and mental health challenges, Maria also voluntarily leads free post-diagnosis workshops for the city of Oslo, empowering newly diagnosed autistic adults to build self-esteem, establish boundaries, and navigate society authentically.
